Scott to Propose $1.2 Billion More in Education Spending

Wednesday

Jan 30, 2013 at 2:54 PMJan 30, 2013 at 4:19 PM

Scott explains budget proposal at AP legislative planning session.

By BILL RUFTYLEDGER POLITICAL EDITOR

TALLAHASSEE | Gov. Rick Scott explained his proposed $1.2 billion increase in education funding Wednesday to a group of editors and reporters from across the state and said it ties directly into improving the economy and the outlook for jobs in Florida.

His party's leaders in the state Legislature, which will take up the budget when the 2013 session begins March 5, praised Scott's emphasis on education.

Speaker of the House Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, and Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said education is also their priority, but neither would guarantee passage of the full $2,500 per teacher pay raise Scott has proposed.

In his first year as governor in 2011, Scott and the Legislature cut $1.3 billion from education. About $1 billion was put back last year. The $1.2 billion proposal for this year would be more than the projected revenue increase for the state and likely would mean cuts elsewhere if the entire amount were approved.

State education officials point out the state is expected to have 30,000 more students next school year than are currently in school.

Democratic leaders in the Legislature criticized the Republican governor for touting his education funding increases.

"We don't think you become the education governor when you cut $1.3 billion in you first year and when you cut higher education in incremental steps," said Rep. Perry Thurston, Democratic leader of the House.

"You don't improve education with money and gimmicks," said Democratic Senate leader Chris Smith. "These increases are not a net gain for what he has done to them in the past."

Scott said cuts made to education his first year in office were necessary to put the state on an even economic path.

"We had to make the right choices to recover," he said. "We made the right choices (in cuts), and we're on the come back."

Scott said his top priorities are jobs and education, "and they are directly related."

Republicans are in the majority in the state House and Senate, and that party's leaders — Weatherford and Gaetz — said increased education funding will be a key priority this year, right up on the priority list with complying with the federal Affordable Health Care Act and new ethics laws.

Weatherford said another key to education in the state will be more higher education courses online. Others have similar feelings. Last year, when she was a state representative, Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, helped add online education courses in K-12.

Former Democratic Sen. Nan Rich, the only person who has officially filed to run for governor in 2014, complained about Scott cutting support for classroom teachers in the past.

Scott said the increased funding he has proposed now will add to the workforce needed and will contribute to hopes that the amount of manufacturing in Florida can increase.

Statistics from 2010 showed manufacturing made up only 4.3 percent of the economy, he said, and pitched his idea that that number could be increased by reducing taxes and fees to create more manufacturing jobs.

Scott boasted unemployment already has decreased from 11.4 percent when he took office to about 8 percent now.

The statement drew an immediate Democratic response.

"The economy is moving forward," Smith said, "but not because of his actions. The state and the nation as a whole are beginning to recover."

[ Ledger Political Editor Bill Rufty can be reached at 863-802-7523 or bill.rufty@theledger.com. Read his blog at polkpolitics.blogs.theledger.com. ]